xiv, 234 pages ; 22 cm

Ellen J. Langer, Harvard professor of psychology, determines that the mindless following of routine and other automatic behaviors lead to much error, pain and a predetermined course of life. In this thought-provoking book, her research has been "translated" for the lay listener. With anecdotes and metaphors, Langer explains how the mindless--as opposed to the mindful--develop mindsets of categories, associations, habits of thought born of repetition in childhood and throughout schooling. To be mindful, she notes, stresses process over outcome, allows free rein to intuition and creativity, and opens us to new information and perspectives. Langer discusses the negative impact of mindsets on business and social relations, showing special concern for the elderly, who often suffer from learned helplessness and lack of options. Encouraging the application of mindfulness to health, the author affirms that placebos and alternative, mind-based therapies can help patients and addicts move from unhealthy to healthy contexts.--From publisher description

"A Merloyd Lawrence book."

Includes bibliographical references (pages 205-224) and index

When the light's on and nobody's home -- The roots of mindlessness -- The costs of mindlessness -- The nature of mindfulness -- Mindful aging -- Creative uncertainty -- Mindfulness on the job -- Decreasing prejudice by increasing discrimination -- Minding matters : mindfulness and health

Mindlessness. When the light's on and nobody's home. Trapped by categories ; Automatic behavior ; Acting from a single perspective -- The roots of mindlessness. The "mindless" expert ; The sacrilegious poodle ; Mindlessness and the unconscious ; Belief in limited resources ; Entropy and linear time as limiting mindsets ; Education for outcome ; The power of context -- The costs of mindlessness. A narrow self-image ; Unintended cruelty ; Loss of control ; Learned helplessness ; Stunted potential

Mindfulness. The nature of mindfulness. Creating new categories ; Welcoming new information ; More than one view ; Control over context : the birdman of Alcatraz ; Process before outcome ; Mindfulness East and West -- Mindful aging. Control and survival ; Reversing memory loss ; Outgrowing mindsets ; Scratching the limits of age ; Growth in age ; Putting age in context : an experiment -- Creative uncertainty. Mindfulness and intuition ; Creativity and conditional learning ; Distinctions and analogies -- Mindfulness on the job. Welcoming the glitch ; Second wind ; Innovation ; The power of uncertainty for managers ; Burnout and control -- Decreasing prejudice by increasing discrimination. A patient by any other name ; The painted cast ; Mindfully different ; Disabling mindsets ; Discrimination without prejudice -- Minding matters : mindfulness and health. Dualism : a dangerous mindset ; The body in context ; Addiction in context ; The traditional placebo : fooling the mind ; The active placebo : enlisting the mind

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